eyelashes falling out

[wishforchange]

Hello,

I posted a while back with deep eye pain and a subsequent diagnosis of Blepharitis.  Michael Kutryb MD answered.  

I was given a regime by the hospital of hourly eye drops and to use hot compresses day and night with massage.  I was incredulous at the diagnosis because I seemed to have no symptoms of dry eye, just the deep eye pain.  However two weeks into the treatment the deep pain has reduced, but not gone.

But there is another problem.  Since using the drops there is this superglue like residue on my eyelashes, which is uncomfortable and makes my eyes stick when I blink.  I try to ease it off, and my eyelashes have become now so brittle they just come away with it.  So I now have hardly any eyelashes left!

Today there was less of this guk on my eyes, but then there is less of it to cling to, as I have so few lashes.  Two more weeks or this to go.  I fear within a few days I will lose the rest of my lashes at this rate.  This can't be healthy.

I was discharged from the hospital after a follow up appointment, but after talking to them, as I also have other strabismus symptoms, they are seeing me again in a few weeks.  But what to do with these drops and the regime?  The eye pain was unbearable.  The treatment, wrong as it seemed at the time as I had no dry eye symptoms, seems to have reduced the pain.  Do I just let my lashes go and accept it as a side effect, or stop the drops?

I am female early forties, usually wear eye make-up and contact lenses, but have stopped for the duration of the treatment.  The mascara wand seems a bit redundant right now anyway.

I am also awaiting investigations for SLE because of the dry eye and other symptoms which point to a possible diagnosis.

Advice please?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I'm sorry but with lid margin disease and blepharitis the eyelashes can be very sickly and fall out.  I suspect that down the road, if the eyelid problem is improved, then your lashes may make a comeback.  Restasis drops and oral doxycycline and oral omega 3 fish oil and flaxseed oil are all other treatments that can be helpful in select cases.

MJK MD

[wishforchange]

Thanks.

Are you suggesting putting the fish oil  etc. on my eyes or taking it as a supplement?

One other question if I may.  The consultant felt one side of my face then the other at different points and asked if they felt different.  Each time I said I could feel it slightly less on the left side, the side with the painful eye.  He didn't explain the test and didn't comment on it afterwards.  I got a letter from him today saying there was nothing dangerous going on, and there was no ocular cause for the eye pain.  However, as I have suspected problems with my spinal cord he seems to think the visual problems are related to that - I have double vision.

What was the test he was doing on my face?  Also without any information on my spine, how could he know the problems were from the spine?

I have asked to see another consultant for a second opinion.  The eye pain is receding, so maybe it was because of the dryness.  The double vision is getting worse.  

I have an additional problem, when I pick things up now I often drop them.  Is this because of my eyes you think?  Or more my hands?  You give very helpful answers which fill the gaps not answered by the hospital.  They're good but not into explaining things to patients.  Hence my turning to you!  

Hope you can help.